GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 517
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

VACANCIES OF DOCTORS

517. SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD:

DR. UDIT RAJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is true that there are around 2,000 doctors in the
railways with a vacancy of around 550;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is also true that during emergency on account of rail

accidents, doctors from Railways reached to the spot of accident very
late and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the action taken by the Railways to fill up the vacancies of

doctors?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a)&(b): The sanctioned strength of doctors in Indian Railway Medical

Service (IRMS) Group ‘A’ is 2624, out of which there are 416 vacancies

as on 01.02.2019. These vacancies are filled by engaging Contract

Medical Practitioners (CMPs) as a stop gap arrangement till regularly

selected Assistant Divisional Medical Officers (ADMOs) join Railways.

(c): No, Madam.

(d): In view of low joining rate of Assistant Divisional Medical Officers

(ADMOs), the indents for the Combined Medical Services Examination

(CMSE) conducted by UPSC had been increased substantially from 250

to 600 in 2013, 650 in 2014, 600 in 2015 and 600 in 2016. This has

improved the joining rate of doctors on Indian Railways. Action has

also been taken to fill up the posts of Specialist Divisional Medical

Officers (DMOs) in Senior Scale in different specialities by placing

indents with UPSC and about 55 such DMOs have already joined. Offer

letters have also been issued to another 24 candidates recommended

by UPSC for the post of DMO (General Medicine). Further, Zonal

Railways are also empowered and are regularly engaging Contract

Medical Practitioners as per requirement.

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